What to know before entering the 2027 Dance festival
Dance at the 2027 Vernon Performing Arts Festival runs February 28 and March 3 to 6. Every dance class takes place at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Here is what dancers, parents, and teachers need to know before they enter.
Dance dates and venue
- Registration: November 15, 2026 to January 15, 2027
- Dance: February 28 and March 3 to 6, 2027
- Venue: Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre, 3800 33 Street, Vernon
- Gala Awards Night: Thursday, March 11, at the same venue.
After you register, an email confirms your entry, class dates, and location.
Choose your classes
Dance has three disciplines.
- Ballet: Demi-Pointe Classical, Pointe Classical, Contemporary Ballet, Interpretive Ballet, Demi-Character, National Character, and Improvisation
- Modern: Modern, Contemporary, and Interpretive Modern
- Stage: Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Street/Hip Hop, Acro, Song and Dance, Musical Theater, and Variety.
Student choreographers in Ballet, Modern, or Stage can also enter Junior Choreography. The choreographer may dance in their own work.
The Dance syllabus describes each class in full, including where props and lip-syncing are allowed.
Age groups and group sizes
Age is measured as of December 31, 2026. The age groups are 6 and under, 8 and under, 10 and under, 12 and under, 14 and under, 15 years, and 16 and over. Classes may be split further when there are many entries.
For duets, trios, and groups, the festival averages the ages of all the dancers. Groups come in three sizes:
- Small: 4 to 8 dancers
- Large: 9 to 15 dancers
- Extra Large: 16 or more dancers.
A dancer may enter each class once. The same piece may not be used in more than one class.
Fees and time limits
| Entry | Fee | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | $25 | 3 minutes |
| Duet or trio | $15 per dancer | 3 minutes |
| Group of 4 or more | $12 per dancer | 5 minutes |
| Production | $12 per dancer | 15 minutes, including setup |
| Junior Choreography | $25 | 3 minutes |
| Improvisation | $15 | 1.5 minutes |
| Workshop | $25 | 1 hour |
Pay by PayPal, cheque, or e-transfer. All fees are due within seven days after registration closes. Entry fees are not refundable. Medical emergencies are reviewed case by case.
Music, props, and the stage
Upload your music to the festival’s Dropbox folder no later than seven days before you dance. Festival backstage staff play the files.
- The stage is marked at center and at the quarter points. No other markings are allowed.
- The floor is Marley. Lift props into place. Do not drag them across the floor.
- Prop setup must take 30 seconds or less. A teacher or festival volunteer may set props.
- Special lighting is not available.
A loading dock is available for large items outside competition times. Ask a dance venue volunteer to arrange it.
If something goes wrong
A dancer who leaves the stage may start over once. The second try gets comments but no mark. If the problem was not the dancer’s fault, such as a lighting failure, the repeat is adjudicated and marked as normal.
The schedule cannot change once the official program is out. To move an entry to a different category, send a request to the Festival Committee at least seven days before the festival. The change costs $15.
Competitive and non-competitive
Competitive entries receive comments and a mark. They may qualify for certificates, cups, and scholarships. Non-competitive entries receive comments only.
Awards
- Cash scholarships for the Highest Mark in Stage, Modern, and Classical
- Adjudicator Choice awards for Junior, Intermediate, and Senior dancers in Stage, Classical, and Modern
- Most Promising Junior, Intermediate, and Senior.
Trophies and bursaries will be announced. Awards are presented at the Gala Awards Night.
Workshops
The adjudicator for each discipline teaches workshops in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Tap. Workshop groups are Junior (10 to 12), Intermediate (13 to 15), and Senior (16 to 20). Each workshop has a dress code, listed in the Dance syllabus.
Provincials
Vernon may send one dancer per age group in each discipline to the BC Provincial Festival. The adjudicators make the selections. Dancers who hope to go must enter two solos in their discipline. The syllabus lists the exact pairings.
For families in the audience
Please do not take photos or record video during performances. Recording can lead to the dancer’s disqualification. Silence your phone and stay seated until a break.
Ready to enter?
Read our registration guide, then register on our registration page from November 15. Questions go to [email protected].